JUNE 2021
Senior Leadership Capstone Project For Senior and Master Chief Petty Officers
Prepared by: USNSCC National Headquarters
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LETTER TO CADETS AND ADULT LEADERS Dear Cadets, Adult Leaders, and Families:
National Headquarters is thrilled to begin the Senior Leadership Capstone experience with you!
The Senior Leadership Capstone project will be a significant departure from the course requirements with which you are already familiar from the previous rates, namely the Polaris Advancement Courses (PAC). For advancement to Senior and Master Chief Petty Officer, cadets will plan, implement, and publish an independent project of their choice and design that could potentially impact the entire USNSCC and leave a lasting legacy for the entire field.
We will be using a well-researched design process called Project Based Learning (PBL) to structure the entire experience for cadets and adult leaders alike. With minimal guidance from a trusted mentor officer, the cadet will launch, research, implement, and publish their projects. Cadets and mentors will be provided PBL documentation to organize the entire process from start to finish. However, we want cadets to be at the helm.
There are four primary stages to the PBL process: Launch, Research, Development, and Presentation. The research and development stages are cyclical, insofar as cadets may need to engage in repeated drafting and revision to achieve a successful outcome. In order to fulfill requirements for Senior Chief, cadets will only be required to complete the first two phases, a process designed to take between four and six months. To advance to Master Chief, the cadet must continue this same project through the final two phases, which will likely be an additional six months.
Projects will be evaluated on a rolling basis as they are completed by a member of our volunteer pool of reviewers, which may include active and retired members of the Navy and Coast Guard. All evaluation tools and procedures will be shared in an effort to be as supportive and transparent as possible. We will also provide sample projects for your review that meet our expectations in terms of effort and impact. Cadets will work on these projects as individuals and not as part of a team.
As parents, guardians, caregivers, and leaders, we encourage you to discuss this project with cadets and inquire about its progress. Please be as supportive and patient as possible; however, the cadet is piloting this ship. It is their responsibility to acquire resources, answer tough questions, and ask for guidance. Cadets may also fail in his or her first attempts, or their project may not turn out as expected. That's perfectly fine. We can learn just as much, if not more, from frustration and failure. Developing advanced leadership skills through this process is more important than outcome, although we will do our level best to set everyone up for success.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to your chain of command if you have any questions.
Very Respectfully,
USNSCC National Headquarters
JUNE 2021
Welcome, Chief! Congratulations once again on your advancement to Chief! You should also be commended for your dedication to the USNSCC and desire for continued advancement.
This guide provides all the information you need to successfully complete your Senior Leadership Capstone, which is required for advancement to Senior and Master Chief Petty Officer.
Senior Leadership Capstone A capstone typically refers to a crowning achievement, a task or event occurring at the end of a career. Your capstone project will certainly become your greatest achievement to date as a cadet and potentially becoming a lasting legacy that you leave with the USNSCC.
The overall project planning process has four stages, the first two required for advancement to Senior Chief and the final two for Master Chief. As you begin the planning phases, make sure it is a topic on which you can focus for up to a year!
A local mentor of your choice-likely a home unit officer-will offer support and guidance throughout this process. You are at the helm; therefore, it is entirely up to you as to whether or not this project succeeds.
Let us begin!
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JUNE 2021
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Timeline The capstone will adhere to a precise sequence of milestones, each with its own deliverable that builds toward a final project. Both the Senior Chief and Master Chief phases are designed for a maximum duration of six months each, which coincides with the required TIR for advancement. The entire process is laid out below, and will conclude with an evaluation, presentation, and publication.
1-2 Months
Project Launch: Entry Event and Driving Question Required for advancement to SCPO.
2-3 Months
Research, Gathering Information and Skills, to Answer Driving Question(s)
2-3 Months
Develop Products and Critique Answers to Driving Question(s) Required for advancement to MCPO.
1-2 Months
Present or Publish Project and Outcomes
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You are not alone. Your team will assist you with this entire process, including National Headquarters. Each member of your team has a role and responsibility.
Regional Director
Commanding Officer
Training Officer
Regional Directors (RD)
Your Commanding Officer
Your unit's Training Officer
supervise several units within a
(CO) is your biggest booster on
(TO), and those of other units,
local area. The RD can be a
your way to Senior and Master
will have the most up-to-date
tremendous resource for
Chief. The CO can provide you
information about various
contacting local units and is a
with the most immediate
advancement requirements.
crucial member of your chain
support and answer questions
The TO is yet another
of command to connect you
that you may have right away.
invaluable resource in your
with resources at the national
They are also critical members
overall network of support. As
level.
of the chain of command.
a future Senior or Master Chief, you may be assisting with TO duties.
The ultimate responsibility is yours.
There may be others who can offer you
Take seriously the resources that we provide.
information and support; however, you are
Complete the planning documents along the
the one that needs to ask.
way so you do not get lost.
This is an opportunity to demonstrate your
Embrace the possibility of failure and learn
maximum leadership potential and leave a
from it. The outcome may not turn out the
valuable legacy with the USNSCC. Treat
way you wanted, but you still need to
each step of the process as such.
present it as a valuable learning opportunity.
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Documents This guide includes the following informational, planning, and reference materials to assist you with your capstone. We highly recommend completing these documents and discussing the contents with your project mentor.
Driving Questions
Key Vocabulary
Introductory Letter
Capstone Project Design Checklist
Project Path
Storyboard
Project Planning Template
Individual Work Report (you may need to make multiple copies)
Self-Reflection
Sample Project
Project Design Rubric
Additional Background Reading on PBL (especially for mentors)
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Driving Questions Crafting a compelling Driving Question is one of the most critical and often overlooked tasks in the entire project planning process. This question drives your investigations and will be something you will live with for the entire duration of the project. So, think hard about this.
An effective driving question should meet the following criteria:
open-ended with more than one possible solution or outcome focused and actionable within the time frame inspires sustained and rigorous inquiry over several months will require additional knowledge, understanding, and leadership acquisition by the cadet entirely cadet-generated
Consider using the following suggestions for inspiration:
Framing Words
Person or entity
Action or challenge
Audience or purpose
Build How can...
I/We
Create
Real Problem
Make
How do...
We as [roles, rates]
What...
Unit, region,
Design/Plan
For a Solve
area, NHQ
How should...
Community Organization
Could...
NSCC/NLCC
For NHQ
community organiaztion
Write
For cadets
Propose
For adult
Decide
leaders/COs
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Key Vocabulary The following is a glossary of important project-based terms.
Deliverable - something that is provided to demonstrate progress on a project. Driving Question - The central question or need that your project will answer. Launch -
The formal approval of the initial project plan by all parties involved.
You can throw a launch party if you want.
Mentor - An adult leader with who you will visit regularly and support your work. Milestone - An event that marks each phase of your project, often accompanied by a deliverable.
Publish - The act of making your project accessible to a wider audience, which may be just your home unit or the entire field of cadets. It depends.
Storyboard - If words and complete sentences are not always your thing, use sketches or drawings to support project planning.
Rubric - A framework listing the criteria for a successful project or assignment. Designing your own as you need them can be a helpful exercise.
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Project Workflow This is a sampling of the documents required for submission with each
milestone, in addition to parts of the actual project. Completed Project Planner Storyboard (optional) Launch Event (approval from CO) Milestone #1
MILESTONE
Individual Work Plan (weekly) Milestone #2 Assessment meeting with mentor Individual Work Plan (weekly) Milestone #3 Assessment meeting with mentor
If cadet is only eligible for SCPO, also: Final Presentation Reflection
Individual Work Plan (weekly) Milestone #4 Assessment meeting with mentor
Individual Work Plan (weekly) Milestone #5 Assessment meeting with mentor
Individual Work Plan (weekly) Milestone #6 Final Presentation Completed project Reflection